The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-18
HE TOOK THEM OFF.
tl0u Sergeant Stripped an Ex-Confederate onlcer
Of Ills Insignia u Rank.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: An incident
came under my observation at Gainesville,
Ala, in May or june, 1865, which for Its ludic-
roUsness may he OF interest 70 the comrades,
who always appreciate anything pertaining to
soldier hIe. At the time spoken of my regi-
meut-the SD lnd.-bad been detached and
sent down 70 this point on little spur of rail-
road 10 guard tile stores turned over by the
rebel Gen. n. q Forrest, consisting Of cannon,
wagons, tents, etc This town j. at the head OF
navigation on the Tainhi-ber River. We also
took Ia "A ckale-runucr which had run mp
here for protection. An order was issued 10y
the General Government ard IL was a part Of
our duty TO promulga'o it, that 'All officers IA
the late so-caiiea Confederate States army
should remove from thoir collars, sleeves aud
so.,tas Of paus6 all cord, vines, leaves or other
insignia oI rank In the SO called Confederate
service"
The Confederate soldiory, as n rule, on hear
Ing the order at once removed all marks Of
rank. But one day the patrols were making
their regular rounds through the town when
they met young. dandiGed officer dressed
from top TO toe in a brand new suit Of Confvd-
crate gray of fine material with a full line Of
rank signs everywhere he could find room for
themi including gold cord in the seam o. has
pauts. His suit fitted him neatly, and 10 tell
the truth he looked splendidly, or ~ the girls
say, too sweet Tor anything" know he felt
ethereal, for, with head thrown back, his feet
scarcely touched the groand as he came sailing
down the street, bowling 10 the young ladies.
Meeting the patrol, he would have passed
them by with silent contempt, not even deign-
Ing TO look at them, but the sturdy Sergeant
who was M command, and who sized the fellow
up at a glance as "A feather-bed" soldier of
some kind, at once lot him know that he de-
sired 20 have little talk with him. As he
came mp 10 him he commanded Haiti"
The young Johnny halted, and turning a
whitening look upon the Sergeant, as If he
would scar his very soul with his scorching
glance, asked Why do you halt gentleman,
ssh, on the strects2"
The Sergeant coolly looked him over before
answering, aud then said, respectfully but
firmly, that the Government had entrusted
him with an order 10 be read TO all officers OF
the late Contederacy, aud as he observed in
sigma Of rank on his person be deemed il has
duty to read il 10 him. Mr. johnny scornfully
listened, and with toss of the head said: -
suppose veal ali in you-alls powah, SO proceed,
SAN"
The Sergeant read the order and told him
that when he went home il would be his duty
10 remove them, and that il was contrary 10
law TO wear them longer publicly.
Mr.. Reb fired up at this aud said: :" / shall
not remove those honahble signs of my rank,
sab. it hahms no one, sab, and shall not do
il, sah."
The Sergeant told him IL he did not he was
forced TO do ii for him, and at a nod two of the
guards seized Mr.. Reb while the Sergeant with
q pOcket-knife proceeded TO remove all the OBJ
JectlonabIe leaves, wreaths etc. Coming 10 the
cord ln the seam of the pants he began TO
move that also, and as IL was sewed in with the
seam, when IL WAS removed the outside seam
came apart from the bottom To the wastband,
the latter only holding the pants together.
johnny" was turned loose with some good
advice, and il was too funny TO see him hurry
of down street with averted eyes, looking
neither TO the right nor the left, with his pauts
legs loosoned on the outside and Tapping in the
wind-a sight, where one had no sympathy 10
make horse laugh. He stopped not TO bow to
the ladies, as he had done when he came up the
street We remained here through July, but
had no more arrogant actions from the assumed
Goldfish aristocraGs The genuine Confederate
soldiers we found to be perfect gentlemen, who
knew a soldier was bound 10 obey orders, aud
therefore never took otense at us.--J. w. La
COCK, Serg't, Co. c, SD Ind, Mason, Ill.